Shida Night Market is a popular night market for students who attend the National Taiwan Normal University (nicknamed Shida). Famous foods you’ll find in this student market include fried chicken, dumplings, and more.
I’ve lived in Taiwan for over 5 years, have attended Shida, and have frequented this night market. I want to combine my experience and other information I found to help you determine whether this market’s worth visiting.
I’ve Tried & Want You to Try These Foods
Here’s what you should try at Shida Night Market:
| Food | Restaurant/Stand | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Fried Chicken | Shi Yun Taiwanese Fried Chicken | No. 14, Ln. 39, Shida Rd., Da’an Dist., Taipei |
| Minced pork-stuffed dumplings | Hsu Ji Sheng Jian Bao | No. 12號, Lane 39, Shida Rd, Da’an District, Taipei City, 106 |
| Steamed pork buns | Aunt Lee’s Shui Jian Bao | No. 11, Long Guan Street |
| Pineapple buns | Ho Ho Mei | No. 19-1, Longquan Street |
| Tofu pudding (beancurd) | Beigang Tofu Pudding | No. 15, Lane 39, Shida Road |
| Fried dumplings | Xu Kee Fried Dumplings | No. 9, Lane 49, Shida Road |
Beef noodle soup is a traditional Taiwanese dish found at most night markets. It is a hearty soup made with beef, noodles, and vegetables in a savory broth.
Pineapple buns are a type of pastry that is popular throughout Asia. It’s a sweet dough filled with a filling made from dried fruits, nuts, and spices.
The bakers then steam or bake the buns. You’ll usually see these served with sweetened condensed milk or a sugar glaze.
Dumplings are small balls of dough that are boiled or steamed and usually served with a soup or stew. You’ll find these everywhere in Taiwan.
Most of this food you can find throughout Taiwan. And you may not find Michelin-grade restaurants in Shida. But it’s a (somewhat) organized and lively night market that’ll give you a chance to try various Taiwanese foods.
How To Get there
1. MRT / Subway: Take the Taipei Metro Orange line to Guting Station. From there, leave the station and you’ll have a 10-minute walk to the market.
2. Bus: I recommend downloading the Bus+ app to make tracking buses easier.
The nearest bus station to Shida Night Market is the Long An Primary School Station. It’s around a 7-minute walk to get from there to Shida.
3. YouBike: There’s a YouBike station 2 minutes away (walking distance) from the night market.
4. Uber / taxi: The price for taking a taxi will vary by where you order it from.
- I honestly recommend downloading one of these apps to book a taxi:
- Find Taxi (English): Book a taxi ahead of time and know the driver’s ratings (like Uber…)
- 55688 (English): Same as Find Taxi, but with a reward point system.
Is There Anything Else to Do Around Here?
Daan Forest Park (the city’s largest park) is around an 11-minute walk from Shida Night Market. It’s an ideal way to surround yourself with “nature” and get away from the concrete jungle.
Even at night, it’s still safe to venture through.
The park gives you a 2.5-mile (4 km) loop to burn off calories and experience nature.
Don’t want to surround yourself with people? Walk 16 minutes to Drunken Moon Lake. It’s a small lake with a 0.4-mile (0.8 km) loop. Great for biking, bird watching, and walking.
Other than those 2 parks, there aren’t many nearby attractions. You could rent a YouBike and venture deeper into Taipei City. Or take the Taipei Metro to Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall station and visit the memorial.
It’s only 1 station away from Guting.
The memorial hall is better to visit during the day. But I love the night view of all the buildings and plants.
You could also head south to Gongguan Night Market, which is also very small. However, they have a Michelin Star Taiwanese burger food stand. I’d recommend this night market to try that.
Important Information for Travelers
| Is It Worth Going to? | Yes; only if you’re in the area |
| Hours (As of 2024) | Mon – Fri: 4:00 – 11:00 PM |
| Weekend: 4:00 PM – 12:00 AM | |
| Number of Stalls | NA |
| Closest Rail Station | Guting Station |
| Cost to Enter | Free |
| City Located | Taipei City |
| Address | Lane 39, Shida Rd, Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106 |
| Chinese Name | 師大夜市 (Shīdà Yèshì) |
| Wheelchair-Accessible? | Yes |
| Free Wi-Fi | iTaiwan or Taipei Free |
Information about Shida Night Market.
If you’re a student who goes to school at National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU), this night market is ideal for when you get out of class. Otherwise, tourists won’t find much benefit in this area.
Unless you happen to be nearby.
Since, again, this night market focuses on students.
It’s one of the more boring night markets that I’ve been to because the food stands are sparse. It honestly feels more like a typical Taiwanese street, which has various street food vendors. Yet, Shida has the “night market” title.
Traveler Tips & Considerations
- Inform vendors about any allergies. Translation cards detailing your allergies can be beneficial.
- The best time to visit depends on the specific food stalls you want to try, as their opening hours may vary.
- Note that food stall hours might differ from the overall night market hours.
- Most stalls only accept cash, though a few may also take LINE Pay.
Important information regarding food allergies.
Given that most Taiwanese people are unable to read Simplified Chinese, it’s essential to create allergy cards using Traditional Chinese characters. To ensure accuracy, seeking help from a native speaker is recommended.
While resources like FARE provide allergy card templates, they may not be effective in Taiwan due to the language barrier. Regardless, always have an EpiPen or similar device on hand for emergencies.
Should you need an EpiPen in Taiwan, inquire about an “艾筆腎上腺素注射筆” at a pharmacy, but be prepared to obtain a prescription from a doctor. The cost is usually around NT$4,200 – 4,500.